Strike up the band for the second annual Dance Party

Strike up the band for the second annual Dance Party

COLLEGE PARK — As the leader of the band Wings of Sound, Don Pittman spends a lot of time attending weddings. The band is a popular draw, he noted, when couples are ready to tie the knot.

“At a wedding, usually there’s a dinner involved, so we play light Jazz and everything from Nat King Cole to Sting, to traditional standard Jazz tunes like ‘Misty’ and things like that for the first set,” Pittman said. “Then we build up through the evening, and by the end of the evening we’re rocking with the latest dance tunes.”

The only thing is, the general public doesn’t get to hear their music – unless they’re friends of the bride or groom, he added.

“We mostly play private events, so a couple of years ago I thought we needed to play someplace where everyone could hear us,” he said. “People ask us, ‘Where are you playing next,’ and it’s a wedding, and the public can’t go to that.”

Last year, Wings of Sound solved the dilemma by organizing a dance party that was held in late January at Dubsdread Golf Resort. The 9-piece band with a horn section attracted 180 people to that event.

“The people that came to the event just loved it,” Pittman said. “They had a blast.”

It went over so well that Wings of Sound is now organizing the 2nd Annual College Park Dance Party for Thursday, Jan. 23 at Dubsdread from 7-10 p.m. The evening will feature hors d’œuvres, a cash bar, a night of music, and plenty of opportunities to dance on the Dubsdread ballroom dance floor.

“It’s about dancing, it’s about partying, it’s about having a good time," he said. "It’s a time to have some fun toward the end of January.”

During three sets, there will be a diverse selection of music being performed, Pittman added.

“We like to say we play music for people from eight to 80,” he said. “We’re a wedding and convention band, and that’s a mixed crowds, so we can do everything from 1940s big band swing to rock ‘n roll, and plenty of Motown music.”

Wings of Sound, which has been performing for more than two decades, is using this event to spread the word about what they do – and to help support a good cause.

“We wanted to market ourselves, and we felt this would be a perfect opportunity,” Pittman said. “We wanted to do it at a place where the people knew us, and that was the College Park area. We wanted to do it in a place nearby, and that’s how we chose Dubsdread.”

That historic resort is at 549 W. Par St. in College Park.

The band is also contributing a portion of the proceeds from this event to the Downtown Orlando YMCA at 433 N. Mills Ave.

“We wanted to shoot some money toward an organization through a charitable event, and the YMCA is a great institution that has done a lot for kids,” Pittman said. “I’m a member of the YMCA, and last year when we did the first annual party, we were able to donate some of the proceeds to the YMCA for them to use, however they choose.”

Pittman also loves performing for College Park audiences.

“They’re the best,” he said. “They love to dance. They love to have a good time.”

To book tickets, email Collegeparkdanceparty@gmail.com. Include a request for the number of tickets you want.

Tickets are $20, and will also be sold at the door on the night of the event.